Help! How can I fix my bad credit?

MAKE MISTAKES GO AWAY A third of credit reports have serious errors. Check yours by ordering a copy for about $10 from Equifax.com, Experian.com or TransUnion.com. By law, you can dispute anything in your file.

NEGOTIATE WITH CREDITORS Can’t cough up what you owe? Some creditors may be willing to take a portion of your bill in exchange for removing the black mark from your credit report. But be sure to get the agreement in writing.

DON’T CANCEL YOUR CREDIT CARDS Your debt is weighed against all your available credit, including charge cards with no balances, so closing those accounts can hurt you. (Don’t use the cards or open any new accounts in the meantime.)

REBUILD YOUR REPUTATION Ask a close relative with stellar credit to make you an authorized user on a secondary card. The card’s positive payment history will show up on your report and make you look good, too.